Control means for epicyclic power transmission mechanisms



A. c. wlcKMAN 3,160,030

CONTROL MEANS FOR EPICYCLIC POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISMS Dec. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18. 1960 Dec. 8, 1964 A. c. wlcKMAN 3,160,030

i CONTROL MEANS FOR EPICYCLIC POWER TRANSMISSION MEcHANIsNs l# Filed om. 18, 1960 2 sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent() i 3,166,039 CGNTRL MEANS FR EPEQYCLC PGWER TRANSMFQGN MEQHANISMS i Axe! C. Wickman, 14 Hibiscus Brive, Hibiscus island, Miami Beach, Fia. `Liiied Get. 18, 156i), Ser. No. 63,322

Ciairns priority, application Great Britain Nov. 30, 199

15 Stahna. (Cl. 74-761) This invention relates to epicyclic power transmission mechanisms for road vehicles or other purposes, of the kind which include two elements either of which can be used for imparting driving motion to the mechanism.

ne object of the invention is to enable either of the driving elements of such an arrangement to be connected to an engine or other power source in a simple and convenient manner.

A further object is to provide control means enabling a drive to be connected alternatively to either -of two coaxial drive shafts. A still further object is to provide control means which enable the alternative drive to be connected with sustained power, i.e. so that as the alternative drive is connected the existing drive is smoothly disconnected.

A control means in accordance with the invention comprises essentially a driving clutch member having an inner peripheral surface of frustro-conical form, a pair of complementary driven clutch members of different diameters for frictional engagement with the said inner surface of the driving clutch member and respectively adapted to actuate the driving elements of the transmission mechanism, and means for engaging the driven clutch members with the driving clutch member.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal section illustrating a controimeans in accordance with the invention for use with a 5-speed epicyclic mechanism, FIGURE 1a being a supplementary View illustrating a portion of the epicyclic mechanism.

yFIGURE 2 is a sectional view illustrating an alternative form of the control means shown in FIGURE 1.

With reference to FIGURE l, the engine-driven shaft 1 has secured to it with axial freedom of movement, a driving clutch memberl 2 on which is formed a laterally extending iiange 3 having an inner peripheral surface of the springs 14. Engagement of the driven clutch member 3 with the driving clutch member 2 iseiected bythe disc, in which case the driven clutch member 7 is of larger diameter than the driven clutch member S.

The particular form of epicyclic mechanism shown in FIGURE l, to be controlled by the above described clutches, is a 5 lspeed andV reverse motion mechanism. It comprises a sun pinion s1 formed on or secured-to the primary input shaft 9, and a sun pinion s2 formed on or secured to the secondary input shaft 10. On a sleeve 15 carried by the secondary input shaft 10is formed or secured a reaction pinion r1 which is controlled by hydraulically operable clutches to be hereinafter described. The sun pinions S1, S2, engage compound planet pinions 16 mounted on a planet pinion carrier 17 which is formed on or secured to the output shaft 18, The planetV pinions 1 6 engageVK compound planet pinions 19 (FIGURE la) which engage'the reaction sun pinion r1, and also engage a reverse-motion internally toothed annulus 20, which can be held against rotation by a slidable pawl 21 under the control of the driver, which pawl can be engaged With teeth 22 on the said annulus. Also the planet pinions 16 are engaged by an internally toothed reaction annulus r2, formed on or secured to a disc 23 which is connected to a disc Y24- throughv a unidirectional clutch 25. The disc 24vhas formed on it peripheral teeth 24a which can be engaged by the pawl 21 under the frustro-conical form. This member is movable axially Y by a hydraulically operable annular piston 4 contained in' an annular cylinder S formed in the housing of the mechanism. The piston acts on the clutch member 2 through a thrust ring 6.

Within the said driving clutch member 2, are contained two complementary driven clutch members 7, S having truste-conical peripheries of different diameters adapted for frictional engagement with the inner surface ofthe peripherai part of the clutch 2. The clutchmemher `7 is secured to the primary input shaft 9 of the epicyclic mechanism to be driven by the clutch, yand the clutch member 8 has an axially slidable connection with the secondary input shaft 10 of the mechanism, the shaft 11i-being in the form of a sleeve which is mounted on the Vprimary input shaft 9. The clutch memberis movable axially by a hydraulically operable annular piston llfwhich is contained in'an annular cylinder 12 and which acts onV the clutch member 8 through a thrust ring 13.

Between the Vclutch members 2 and .8 are :arranged a clutch member 7, and abut agains't'thrust rings 14a.

The arrangement is such that engagement of the driving spring or springs 14 which pass through apertures inthe control of the driver.

' The above mentioned means for controlling the reac- Vtion pinion r1, comprises a clutch member 25 attached to the sleeve 15 and adapted forVV frictional engagement with a complementary iixed'clutch member 27 provided on the housing of the mechanism. Thesaid member 26 is movable into engagement with the member 27 by a hydraulically operable annular piston 28 contained in a cylinder 29 and acting on the clutch member 26 through a thrust ring Sii. Further there is slidably connected to the secondary input shaft 1i) a clutch member 31 adapted Vfor frictional engagement with the 'clutch member 26, by

an annular hydraulically operable piston 32 contained in a cylinder 33 and acting on the said clutch member through a thrust ring 34. Between the clutch membersY 226 and 31 is arranged one or more springs 35 and an annular thrust plate 35a. I The mode of action is as follows:

To obtainthe iirst forward speed the for imparting motion to the sun pinion s1, and'the'reaction'annulus r2. is held against rotation by engagement of the pawl 21 with the teeth 24a.

The second speed is obtained by engaging the drivenV clutch memberf with the driving clutch member 2 for imparting motion to the sun pinion s2, the reactionmemvreaction sun pinion :r1-'is held against rotation by engagement ,of the'cliitch member Z6n with the `clutch member 2'7.

The fourth speedfis obtained by'en'gaging the clutch i ,member S with theclutch member 2 forimparting rotation to' the sun pinion s2 ,`it he reaction pinion r1 remain- Patented Ecc. 8, 1964 j y Y n driven clutch member '7 is engaged'with the driving clutchV member 2` `while rotationally coupled thereto.`

To obtain the fifth speed, 'the clutch members 26, 31 are interlocked, the member 26 being released from the xed clutch member 27, so interlocking the sun pinion s2 and the reaction pinion r1..`

Reversal of the rotation of the output shaft is effected by `causing the primary output shaft .to rotate the sun pinion s1 and by locking the annulus Ztl by the pawl 21.

Reverting now to the engine-driven control clutch above described, the invention is not restricted to the particular arrangement shown in FIGURE l, as an alternative arrangement, suchas shown in FGURE 2, may be employed. In 'this arrangement the engine-driven shaft l has formed onit a disc 2,4 and on the periphery of the latter is mounted with axial freedom of movement a disc 36 from which extends the frustro-conical flange 3,

the part 36 being movable relativelyto the part 2 'by a.

spring or springs as 37. The driven clutch member S is movable hydraulically into engagement with the driving clutch member 3 as above described by a piston 11 formed on a disc 38, a thrust ring 39 being arranged between the disc 38, and the clutch member 8; Between the driven clutch members 7 and 8 is arranged a spring or springs 40, and a thrust ring 40a.

The arrangement is such that the driving clutch member 3 is moved into engagement with the driven clutch member 7 by the spring 37, the clutch member 8 being disengaged from the member 3 by the springs 40. To engage the driven clutch member 8 with the driving member 3, the piston 11 is brought into action, and the consequent axial movement given to the member releases it from the member 7, the latter being then held against axial 'movement by a thrust ring 41 located between it and the part 2 on the shaft 1.7.

Further, whilst the engine driven control clutch has been above described for controlling a S-speed and reverse epicyclic mechanism, the invention is not restricted to such use as it may be applied to other arrangements of epicyclic mechanisms which include two sun pinions or other elements either of which can be usedy for imparting driving motion to the mechanism.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by kLetters Patent is:

1. Cont-rol means for connecting a drive'alternatively and selectively to either of -two coaxial drive shafts, cornprising an axially movable driving clutch member having aninner peripheral clutch surface, two axially spaced driven clutch members each with an outer peripheral clutch surface for clutching engagement with said inner eters and the smaller being fixed in the axial sense while clutch surface and respectively connected in the drive sense with said drive shafts, one of said driven clutch members being axially movable and the other located in the axial sense, and means to produce axial movements clutch member to connect the drive'to one ofV said drive shafts, and the axially movable driven clutch member can Y then be moved into clutching engagement withV the driving clutch member Itov connect the drive to theiother of said drive shafts in such manner thatithe driving clutch` member is simultaneously displaced out of clutching engagement with the axially located driven clutch member. 2. Control)means `according to 'claim V1; wherein said drive shafts are arranged one within'the other, said axially located clutch member is vfixed to the inner of said drive shafts, andsaid axially movable driven clutch member is slidably 'mounted on the outer'V of said drive shafts 3. Controlmeans according to laim 2, whereinV said drive shafts are respectively connected to twov elements of an epicyclic power transmission 'mechanism'either 'of which can transmit the drive @to themechanism. 4. Control means'according to claim 3, wherein sun pinions being of different effective-diameters.

said Y elements are sun pinionsof the epicyclic mechanism, said*` the other is axially movable, spring means urging said driving clutch member and and the axially movable driven clutch member apart to positions in which all said members are free from clutching engagement, first fluidpressureV operated means to move said driving clutch member axially into clutching engagement with the axially xed driven clutch. member without engaging the axially movable driven clutch member, and second fluidpressure operated means to move the axially movable driven clutch member into clutching engagement with said driven clutch member in a mannerwhich overcomes said first fluid-pressure operated meansY and displaces said driving clutch member .to produce simultaneous disengagement of the latter from the axially fixed driven clutch member.

6. Control means according to claim 5, wherein said first and second fluid-pressure operated means respec- Vtively comprise annular pistons of different effective diameters. 7. Control means for connecting a drive alternatively to either of two coaxial drive shafts, comprising an axially movable driving clutch member with an inner peripheral clutch surface, two axially spaced coaxial driven clutch members each with an outer peripheral clutch surface for clutching engagement with said inner clutch surface, the driven clutch members being of different effective diameters and theI smaller driven clutch member fixed in the axial sense while the other is axially' movable, spring means urging said driving clutch member towards the axially xed clutch member for clutching engagement with the latter While'free from the other driven clutch member in an inoperative position of the latter, further spring means for urging the axially movable driven clutch member to said inoperative position, and fluid-pressure operated means to move the axially movable driven clutch member into clutching engagement with the driving clutch member in a manner which simultaneously displaces Y. the driving clutch member from the axially fixed clutch member against they action of said first-mentioned spring means. i

8. Control means according to claim 7, wherein said fluid-pressure operated means comprise an annular piston which acts on the axially movable driven clutch member.

9. An epicyclic power transmission mechanism comprising an input shaft, two alternative driving elements, Vcontrol means for connecting said input shaft alternatively to either of said driving elements, an output shaft, and twol epicyclic gear trains respectively coupling said driving elements to said output shaft, said control means comprising an axially movable driving clutch member having an inner peripheral clutch surface of generally conical formv mounted on said input shaft, two axially spaced drivenclutch members each with an -outer peripheral clutch surface of'l generally conical formfor clutching engagement'with' said inner clutch surface and respec- .tively connected'in the drive sense with said `driving elements, said driven clutch members being of different effec- -tive outer diameter and one thereof being axially movable and the other located-in the axial sense,and means to produce axial movements of said axially movable clutch membersin opposite directions so that said driving clutch member can-be moved into clutching engagemenhwith thedaxially` located Y,driven r clutch member to connect` the drive tojone of saidfdriving.elementsyand V,t'l'iejaxially movable drivepnsclujtch member `'canthen bernoved'into clutching engagement with, the driving clutch-member,v

to connect the drive to the other of said driving members in such manner that the driving clutch member is simultaneously displaced out of clutch engagement with the axially located driven clutch member.

10. An epicyclic power transmission mechanism comprising an input shaft, two coaxial drive shafts, control means for connecting said input shaft alternatively to either of said drive shafts, an output shaft, and two epicyclic gear trains respectively coupling said drive shafts to said output shaft, said control means comprising an axiallyv driving movable clutch member having an inner peripheral clutch surface of generally conical form mounted on said input shaft, two axially spaced driven clutch members each with an outer peripheral clutch surface for clutching engagement with said inner clutch surface and respectively connected in the drive sense with said drive shafts and mounted thereon, said driven clutch members being of different effective outer diameter and one of said driven clutch members being axially movable and the other located in the axial sense, and means toV produce axial movements of said axially movable clutch" members in opposite directions so that said driving clutch member can be moved into clutching engagement with the axially located driven clutch member to connect the drive from said input shaft to one of said drive shafts, and the axially movable driven clutch member can then be moved into clutching engagement with the driving clutch member to connect the drive from said input shaft to the other of said driving members in such manner that the driving clutch member is simultaneously displaced out of clutching engagement with the axially located driven clutch member.

11. An epicyclic power transmission mechanism comprising an input shaft, two alternative and coaxial drive shafts aligned with said input shaft, control means for connecting said input shaft alternatively to either of said drive shafts, an output shaft also aligned with said input shaft, and two epicyclic gear trains respectively coupling said drive shafts to said output shaft, said control means comprising an axially movable driving clutch member having an inner peripheral clutch surface of generally conical form mounted on said input shaft, two axially spaced driven clutch members each with an outer peripheral clutch surface of generally conical form for clutching engagement with said inner clutch surface and respectively connected in the drive sense with said drive shafts and mounted thereon, said driven clutch members being of different effective outer diameter and one of said driven clutch members being axially movable and the other located in the axial sense, and means to produce axial movements of said axially movable clutch members in opposite directions so that said driving clutch member can be moved into clutching engagement with the aidally located driven clutch member to connect the drive to one of said coaxial drive shafts, and the axially movable driven clutch member ca n thenbe moved into clutching engagement with the driving clutch member to connect the drive to the other of said driving members in such a manner that the driving clutch member -is simultaneously displaced out of clutching engagement with the n axially located driven clutch member.

mounted for axial movement on said input shaft whilst rotationally coupled thereto, said driving clutchmember having an internal generally conical clutch surface facing towards said output shaft, means for urging said driving clutch member towards said output shaft, a rst driven clutch member axially fixed on the inner of said drive shafts with a generally conical outer clutch surface for clutchingengagement with said driving clutch member, a second driven clutch member mounted for axial movement on the outer of said coaxial drive shafts with a..

generally coaxial outer clutch surface for clutching engagement with said driving clutch member, means for urging said second driven clutch member towards and into clutching engagement with said driving clutch member, and two independent epicyclic gear trains respectively coupling said coaxial drive shafts to said output shaft, the arrangement being such that said driven clutch members can be alternatively engaged with said driving clutch member to select a drive path through the mechanism utilising one or other of said epicyclic gear trains and when said driving clutch member is engaged with said rst driven clutch member axial movement of said second driven clutch member into engagement with said driving clutch member serves to produce axial displacement of the latter member which is therefore smoothly disengaged from said first driven clutch member, thus allowing the drive path to be changed smoothly under sustained power conditions.

13. Control means for connecting a drive alternatively to either of two driving elements of an epicyclic power transmission mechanism, comprising an outer driving clutch member with an inner peripheral clutch surface of frusto-conical form, two axially spaced inner driven clutch 'members coaxially arranged within said outer clutch member and respectively connected to said epicyclic elements in the drive sense, each of said driven clutch members having an outer peripheral clutch surface of frusto-conical form for clutching engagement withv said inner clutch surface, axial locating means for one of lsaid driven clutch members whereby the axial movement thereof is at least limited in the axial sense, the other two of said clutch members being axially movable, means to impart relative axial movement to said driving clutch member and said one driven clutch member to bring them into clutching engagement to connect the drive to one of said epicyclic elements, and means to impart relative axial movement to said driving clutch member and the other :of said driven clutch members to bring them into clutching engagement to connect the drive to the other of said epicyclic elements, the arrangement'beingsuch that the act of clutching said other driven clutch member to said driving clutch member produce relative axial displacement between said one driven clutch member and said driving clutch member to disconnect the drive from-V said one epicyclicelement. y

means to impart relative axial movement comprise two fluid-pressure operated pistons which respectively act in opposite directions on said axially movable clutch members.

15. Control meansa according to claim 13, wherein Vreturn spring means -act to urge said axially movable clutch members apart against the action of said pistons.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,190,285 "Gouldbourn July 11, 1916 2,175,382 Eason Oct. 10, 1939 2,352,478 HalfordV June 27, 1944 2,886,984v Whelpley May 19, 1959 2,936,865 Tuck etal. -..V May 17, 

9. AN EPICYCLIC POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM COMPRISING AN INPUT SHAFT, TWO ALTERNATIVE DRIVING ELEMENTS, CONTROL MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID INPUT SHAFT ALTERNATIVELY TO EITHER OF SAID DRIVING ELEMENTS, AN OUTPUT SHAFT, AND TWO EPICYCLIC GEAR TRAINS RESPECTIVELY COUPLING SAID DRIVING ELEMENTS TO SAID OUTPUT SHAFT, SAID CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING AN AXIALLY MOVABLE DRIVING CLUTCH MEMBER HAVING AN INNER PERIPHERAL CLUTCH SURFACE OF GENERALLY CONICAL FORM MOUNTED ON SAID INPUT SHAFT, TWO AXIALLY SPACED DRIVEN CLUTCH MEMBERS EACH WITH AN OUTER PERIPHERAL CLUTCH SURFACE OF GENERALLY CONICAL FORM FOR CLUTCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID INNER CLUTCH SURFACE AND RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED IN THE DRIVE SENSE WITH SAID DRIVING ELEMENTS, SAID DRIVEN CLUTCH MEMBERS BEING OF DIFFERENT EFFECTIVE OUTER DIAMETER AND ONE THEREOF BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE AND THE OTHER LOCATED IN THE AXIAL SENSE, AND MEANS TO PRODUCE AXIAL MOVEMENTS OF SAID AXIALLY MOVABLE CLUTCH MEMBERS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS SO THAT SAID DRIVING CLUTCH MEMBER CAN BE MOVED INTO CLUTCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AXIALLY LOCATED DRIVEN CLUTCH MEMBER TO CONNECT THE DRIVE TO ONE OF SAID DRIVING ELEMENTS, AND THE AXIALLY MOVABLE DRIVEN CLUTCH MEMBER CAN THEN BE MOVED INTO CLUTCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DRIVING CLUTCH MEMBER TO CONNECT THE DRIVE TO THE OTHER OF SAID DRIVING MEMBERS IN SUCH MANNER THAT THE DRIVING CLUTCH MEMBER IS SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLACED OUT OF CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AXIALLY LOCATED DRIVEN CLUTCH MEMBER. 